MIT Academy of Engineering, Alandi and Ferrocement Society, India jointly organized
this one day workshop on 28th September 2018. Prof SumitPatil was the co ordinator of this event. Students are searching for new
technologies which will be helpful after graduation. The intention of this
workshop was to expose the students to the new technologies which can help them
to become successful entrepreneurs. 45 third year and last year students
participated with 2 faculty members of their college. The workshop was
inaugurated by the guest faculties and Prof. Sumitpatil by SaraswatiPujan and the regular Prarthana.

Er Chandramohan,
President of Ferrocement Society explained the use of Ferrocement in the world
and the difference between RCC and ferrocement. So many beautiful structures
like Nautilus house, Mexico, the Mojo Century Centre Texas, dome houses in
Chile, Indonesia, Sri Lanka are built using
Ferrocement. But he said India is much ahead. In India also full buildings are
built with ferrocement like a Jadhav Farm house in Satara, BhaleraoBanglow near Pune. Hundreds of various constructions
are available where Ferrocement is used in India, like big size pipes, Silos,
Fan duct cylinders, Big water tanks and retaining walls. He said ferrocement is
a friend of any architect. Er Chandramohan also explained how innovative
structures are built using Ferrocement. He explained cases where RCC
contractors failed Ferrocement could be done easily. A nalla
was diverted in Pune by constructing in situ Ferrocement pipe of 700 feet
length and 15 feet diameter. Many such structures were explained by him. He
said Pune based Dr Divekar has developed “All in One
method” of building construction. The workshop was concluded with question
answer session and very fruitful discussions with the experts. 4 students
expressed their views about the workshop during feedback session. Prof Pawar
gave vote of thanks to the guests. SakshiWayal and Vinay Jadhav were the
anchors of the workshop.

Ahmednagar dated 25 Sept
2018

The
Institution of Engineers (India), Ahmednagar Local
Centre, under the aegis of Civil Engg Division
Board, organised one-day Workshop on “Ferrocement Technology” on 25 Sep 2018
atShri ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj College of Engg, Nepti, Ahmednagar. Shri Chandramohan Hangekar,
President, Ferrocement Society of India; Chief Engineer (Retd), Water
Resources Department, Government of Maharashtra and Past Chairman, IEIAhmednagar Local Centre
addressed the inaugural session as Chief Guest.Er
Chandramohan Hangekar, in his inaugural address, appealed engineering
students to adopt innovative ideas in technology. He advised students to
always think out of box and said that principle of ‘think and wonder &
wonder and think’ will help students finding innovative ideas.He advised students that there was huge
scope for ferrocement technology in construction work.He said that ferrocement technology has
advantage over RCC as any kind of structures in organic or irregular shapes
with minimum width can be constructed by ferrocement.He advised engineering students to go for
own business instead of wasting time for finding government jobs, where
promotion chances and career growth are very limited.

Earlier, Dr R S Deshpande, Principal, Shri ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj College
of Engineering, and Convener of the Workshop delivered welcome address.He discussed importance of the workshop and
gave details of various sub-themes included for discussion during concurrent
sessions.Er Avinash Kulkarni, Chairman, IEIAhmednagar Local Centre spoke on background of the
workshop and about activities of the Local Centre.Er R P Waykar,
Hon. Secretary, proposed vote of thanks.

Total 6 presentations and
demonstrations on various topics related to the workshop theme were held during
three sessions by eminent experts of Ferrocement Society of India, Pune.

Mumbai - Sept 2017- IEI MSC organized the 5th
Ferrocement Day Function at Mumbai. Ferrocement Society of India officials and
members were also present.

The Ferrocement Day function is
organized in India in remembrance of Late Vishu D Joshi,
a veteran civil engineer and Architect. Competition awards for the best
ferrocement structure are normally given in this function by the Ferrocement
Society.

The function started with warm
welcome by Dr H M Raje Hon.
Secretary, IEI, MSC and introductory speech by Er Vijay Ghogare,
Chairman IEI, MSC. Er Ghogare
told about activities of the state centre. He said
ferrocement is a magical technology in the hands of engineers and architects.
Use of wire meshes makes the components more strong and as such thickness id
reduced. Properties like water tightness, sustainability in earthquakes high
strength to weight ratio make ferrocement popular in civil engineers all over
the world.

A lecture and presentation by
Renowned Architect Ajay Kulkarni was really amazing. He said engineers and
architects must work hand in hand. Natural shapes and emotions can be expressed
in architectural designs. He explained his award winning project VastadLahuji Salve Health
Centre, built in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. He could use ferrocement to give the
wavy shape of the roof, and could express the personality of Lahuji Salve in the building. He also told some experiences
related to Late V D Joshi when he was engaged in HussainGumpha ferrocement Project in Ahmedabad.

Every
year national level competition for selecting best ferrocement structure is
organized for engineers and architects and the winner gets the Late V D Joshi
Award. This is the fifth year. Arch. AnupamaKundoo, Arroville, Arch. Ajay Thosar, Pune, Er. Biji John, Chenganassery, Kerala, Shrishilp
Consultants, Aurangabad were the award winners of previous competitions. This
year the best structure award was given to Owen Waldschlagel. US based
engineer OWEN WALDSCHLAGEL has built a modular building system using
ferrocement thin walls in Mexico. The system can be used universally for
different layouts of the buildings. This concept is more popular in USA. Use of
ferrocement has made it possible to save the material and cost also. The
photograph shows the wall and roof thickness of the ferrocement is much less
than concrete. The structure is appreciated all over the world. Panel of Juries
has selected this project for the award.

Er
Girish Sangle Hon Secretary, FS, said that ferrocementis a really old
technology which emerged before cement concrete, i.e. in 1847. But due to ease
in construction, reinforced concrete superseded and became popular. However
when curved shapes and light weight construction is required engineers and
architects have no other alternative than ferrocement. Ferrocement Society of
India has its head office in Pune. Society is promoting this technology as this
also gives solutions for earthquake resistant houses. Ferrocement is one of the
components in GREEN housing concepts.

Er
Chandramohan Hangekar, Fellow of IEI and President of Ferrocement Society, Er UlhasParanjape, G B Nannor, Vice President of FS, Er
Rajendra Pawar, Managing Director, Water Conservation Corporation of Govt of Maharashtra were also present for this function.

Recently a ten member team visited
Sri Lanka. Prof Sunil Kute discussed many things like opening a ferrocement
chapter in Sri Lanka with Prof. RanjithDissanayake, Senior Professor, Department of
Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya. Girish Sangle, Hon
Secretary, presented some ferrocement publications to this University. Members
also visited National Engineering Research & Development Centre of Sri
Lanka, Ekala, Jaela where
W. P. R. D. Weerasinghe, Principal Research Engineer showed all the ferrocement
activities. A foot bridge is already constructed and tested in this campus.
Many small houses, silos, shells etc are developed by
the researchers in the technology park. Er Weerasinghe
assured to participate in the FS2017 event in Kerala. KiranRajurkar, Jayant Murudkar, Chandrashekhar Hangekar,
Nandkumar Jadhav, NamdevWarade
were also present in the study tour.

SHORT NEWS-

On 15th Oct.2016 at PaniParishad organised by Dr.HedgewarSmarakSevanidhi at Nagar, a Book
Titled "Let us Collect Water Using Ferrocement Technology" was
released By Dr.MadhavraoChitale, RSS KshetriyaPrachrakDr.. Ravindra
Joshi, KshtriyaSevaPramukhDr.Upendra
Kulkarni

This is a Book published by Jalvardhini
Pratishthan and is in English and Marathi language.

Ferrocement Day
2016.

Results of All India Competition
for best Ferrocement Structure

Shrishilp Consultants, Aurangabad has been declared as the
winner of the competition for constructing a ferrocement small dam near Satara
village in Aurangabad.

Ferrocement is a really old technology which emerged before cement
concrete, i.e. in 1847. But due to ease in construction, reinforced concrete
superseded and became popular. However when curved shapes and light weight
construction is required engineers and architects have no other alternative
than ferrocement. Ferrocement Society of India has its head office in Pune.
Society is promoting this technology as this also gives solutions for
earthquake resistant houses. Ferrocement is one of the components in GREEN
housing concepts. Ferrocement Society has decided to celebrate 3rd
September as the Ferrocement Day every year, in the memory of Great Engineer
Late V.D.Joshi.

Every year national level competition for selecting
best ferrocement structure is organized for engineers and architects and the
winner gets the Late V D Joshi Award. This is the fourth year. Arch. AnupamaKundoo, Arroville, Arch. Ajay Thosar,
Pune, Er. Biji John, Chenganassery,
Kerala were the award winners of previous competitions.

Shrishilp Consultants have built a small water conservation dam attached to
a road culvert. Normally so many culverts are constructed to pass the rain
water below the road. But if a small bandhara is
built so as to pass the overflowing water over it and storing the excess water,
it acts as a conservation dam. The ground water table is increased in the
adjacent area. This concept is more popular in Gujarath.
Use of ferrocement has made it possible to save the material and cost also. The
photograph shows the wall thickness of the ferrocement wall is much less than
concrete. The structure is appreciated by many people.

Shri Girish Sangle, Hon Secretary of India Ferrocement
Society said that, the award will be given to the winner, Shrishilp
Consultants in Sir J J College of Architecture,
Mumbai on 2nd September 2016. This year Reliance Foundation, Mumbai,
AmaltasNiketan, Bihar, Amrutvahini College of Engineering, Sangamner,
Archivista, Pune, were the other competitors who will
also be felicitated for their contribution.

Winner
of the 3rd Late V D Joshi best ferrocement structure competition
declared.

Biji
John, Ferrotechnologies, Kerala has been declared
winner.

Ferrocement Society of India having headquarter in Pune has announced results of the third best ferrocement
structure competition. This is All India Level competition and the structures
built using the ferrocement technology are eligible to enter.

This year PrakashNagnath for using ferrocement in building elevations, Arch AnupamaKundoo and her associate
Alba Balmaseda from Madrid who built portable box
type ferrocement houses and MsBiji
John, Ferrotechnologies, Changanacherry,
Kerala for building a 2 story house in Pathanamthitta,
Kerala had submitted their entries. The result is recently declared and MsBiji John fromChanganacherry, Kerala has succeded
in grabbing the award. The award is named after the veteran Late Vishnu Joshi, StrcturalEnginerer and pioneer
in ferrocement technology. After his demise in 2011 the competition of such
structures is being conducted by Ferrocement Society, an NGO working to promote
this technology.

The society has conducted 27 workshops for students in
Engineering and Architecture colleges in India. This technology is different
from RCC and is very useful to build earthquake proof houses. Government of
Maharashtra has started working on a Building manual from the engineers of
Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute, Nashik, where MERI has already done
experiments on Boat Building, Canal Lining, water tanks etc

27-28 January 2015

2 day workshop
was conducted at Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Architecture

Kharghar,
Mumbai. Prin Mankar and Prof Nandedkar took efforts for the successful
workshop.

Students made themselves
the hyperboloid structure with tying of meshes and pressfilling the mortar in
it.

9th February 2014. Dhule Maharashtra.

FERROFIB
2013 – Success of GCE Salem

An AICTE sponsored two week staff
development programme on “Behaviour and Applications of Ferrocement and
Fibre reinforced Composites” was conducted in the Department of Civil
Engineering, Government College of Engineering, Salem from 3.6.2013 to
14.6.2013 with the objective to promote research in the field of ferrocement
and fibre reinforced composites which has great scope and potential in the near
future. The information brochure of the staff development programme was
circulated to all the engineering colleges and also hosted in the Institution
web site. There was unexpected response for this event as about 50 faculty
delegates from various engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
participated.

The
Staff development programme was inaugurated on 3.6.2013 by the Chief Guest Prof.
P. Paramasivam, Professorial fellow, National University of
Singapore who also released the proceedings of the SDP.

Voluntary discussions and healthy interactions
in delegates were seen during the sessions. Practical sessions were also arranged
for the participants and a ferrocement water tank model was constructed in
front of the Civil Engineering block. The participants actively
participated in the construction work and got a good hands on training
experience in the application of ferrocement. A field visit was arranged to
Yercaud on 8.6.2013 to view a few ferrocement structures built over there.

The Valedictory function was held on 14.6.2013 at 3.30
p.m. with the Principal R S D Vahida Banu being the Chief guest.
Certificates were distributed to all the participants by the Principal. The
fully enlightened participants expressed their fulfilment of expectations by
SDP during the valedictory function.

ISLAMPUR- 3 Feb 2012. One day
workshop on ferrocement.

One
day workshop on “Ferrocement in Civil Engineering Structures” was organized on
3 February 2012 by department of civil engineering, Rajarambapu Institute of
Technology, Rajaramnagar (Islampur, Dist. Sangli, Maharashtra) in association
with Ferrocement Society.

The objectives of the
workshop were learning the basics, unique features of the constituent
materials, designs, techniques of fabrication and construction, various fields
of applications. Very nice brochure was printed by the organizers for inviting
the participants. Prof. H.S. Jadhav, HOD, Civil Department was the convener.
The write up of the workshop was given to all participants in CD form. During
discussions, Prin. Dr. Mrs. Sushama Kulkarni expressed her interest for such
new technologies and new research projects for the PG students.

One- Day Ferrocement Workshop at
Amrutvahini College of Engineering, Sangamner(Coordinated by Prof. Sable) on 29
September 2011.

One day ferrocement Workshop
organized by Architects and Engineer’s Association, Nashik.(Coordinated by Dr.
Sunil Kute) on 30 September 2011

CHENNAI-The one day ferrocement
Workshop was jointly organised on 22nd July, 2011 by Ferrocement Society
and the Civil Engineering Department of Jerusalem college of Engineering (JCE),
CHENNAI.

Registration of the faculty members and the students
started at 9 AM. Students of Jerusalem College of Engineering and other
colleges viz., Pondicherry Engineering College, Bharath University, Dr. M.G.R.
University, S.R.M. University, Panimalar Engineering College, Easwari
Engineering College, Dr. M.G.R. Educational & Research Institute,
Valliammai Engineering College, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering. The
entrance lobby was well decorated and everybody was welcomed with the
traditional gandh, kumkum and flowers.

The inaugural function started by 10 am with
traditional prayer in Tamil. Then welcome speech was given by Dr.
P.B.Sakthivel, Professor of Civil Engineering, JCE, who coordinated this
workshop on behalf of Ferrocement Society. Dr. S. Poornachandra, Principal,
Jerusalem College of Engineering delivered the introductory speech.

In the 1st session, Dr. P.Paramasivam's
presentation was very informative. He impressed upon the application of
Ferrocement which are normally used as secondary roofs in Singapore. There is a
low cost housing concept for which Government of Singapore spent money. Use of
ferrocement in precast sunscreens and other building components has proved
cost-saving in buildings. Cellular concrete 50mm thick is now being replaced by
ferrocement with 30 thick panels through interlocking system. Precast industry
is making millions of dollars. While discussing case studies of ferrocement,
Prof. Paramasivam mentioned that stainless steel water tanks on the buildings
are now being replaced by ferrocement tanks in Singapore. Impact resistant
doors are also tested for blasting effects. In tidal zone ferrocement vertical
sea wall along the sea protects the bank. In Trivandrum, a floating restaurant
with ferrocement is built. He also showed the photos of Yugoslavia terrestrial
structures, Zoo entrance in Indonesia and low cost houses in Malaysia. He also
brought out that only mosque built out of ferrocement survived in the tsunami
in Indonesia.

Er. Pushyamitra Divekar, Ferrocement professional in
Pune, discussed so many buildings which he has constructed using ferrocement
technology during the last 10 years. He said ferrocement walls can save 40 to
60 percent cost against the traditional RCC walls. Right from bungalow entrance
gate, swimming pools, pergolas, doors, walls, lintels, stairs, water tanks, and
decorative elements can be constructed using ferrocement. He said ferrocement
use has minimised construction time, use of timber and soil, making it a green
material.

The demonstration of ferrocement technique was
arranged at the central open space of the college building. The skeleton with
weld mesh and chicken mesh layers tightened on it was explained to the
participants by Dr. Divekar. He showed the mortar and the filling method of
mortar while Dr. Neelamegam assisted him. Students also tried the filling
process using cement mortar.

Er. Prakash Nagnath, Pune base ferrocement techie
explained the potential of ferrocement precast industry. He explained his
experiences in pergolas and fins. He said any shape is possible with
ferrocement. While explaining the architectural applications he said
ferrocement as a medium for sculpture proves its versatility and the unlimited
dimension to which it can be used.

Dr. B. Vidivelli explained various tests on
ferrocement and the formulation of methodology for rehabilitation of the beams.
Performance of the beams were evaluated by the factors f1(energy approach) and
f2(deflection approach). Ferrocement laminates can increase the flexural
strength of the beams by 21 to 26 percent.

Dr. M. Neelamegam, former Director-Scientist,
SERC-CSIR, Chennai and currently the Professor & Head of the Department of
Civil Engineering, Easwari Engineering College, Chennai explained polymer
ferrocement composites where polymer forms one of the ingredients of the
matrix. He said polymer ferrocement composites are very cost effective in
applications requiring high degree of durability and chemical resistance and
quick repairing works. Stainless steel and other steels can be replaced by this
method in building industry. He expected the engineers to frog-leap in the
beneficial use of polymer ferrocement composites.

Dr B. N. Divekar explained the all-in-one method for
which he has got patents. He explained the advantages and construction details
of the cavity wall, floor construction. He said there is huge potential for the
precast industry for the fresh engineers after there graduation for becoming
entrepreneurs instead of searching any employment.

There was a question and answer session in which lot
of technical questions on ferrocement and its applications were asked by the
student participants and all the questions were answered by Dr. Paramasivam and
Dr. Divekar.

The workshop was fruitful as the students gained a
new area where they have a chance for becoming an entrepreneur and starting a
small business or taking-up contracts using the above ferrocement technology
instead of a job.

Certificates were issued to all the participants
after the workshop.

The workshop concluded with vote of thanks by Dr.
Anne Ligoria, Professor& Head of
the Department of Civil Engineering, Jerusalem College of Engineering. She
thanked all the experts and participants who attended this workshop and made a
grand success. Prof. Anne mentioned special thanks to Dr. P.B. Sakthivel,
Convenor of the Workshop. She congratulated the arrangements made by Prof. N S
Elangovan and Prof. S. Sellappa, faculty members and all the student volunteers
of the Jerusalem College of Engineering, Chennai.

October
04, 2009 was day -one; around 945 pm the delegates, Ferro Soc members and S EA officers/engineers initiated the welcome function.

Mr Aravind
Ranade, founder of SahyadriEngineeringAcademy,
Pune – a senior structural engineer of Pune, in his speech declared that the Workshop
is inaugurated. He extended best wishes to the Ferrocement Society . Mr. Ranade
Sir further desired thatFerrocement
Society and SahyadriEngineeringAcademy,
Pune be workingtogether for more such
events to come. Mr. Aravind Ranade also released the souvenirby cutting the ribbon of the book package.

Mr. Ravi Ranade briefed about the
number of activities of SE A, Pune. Dr
B N Divekar ,President spoke about the FerrocementSociety Pune. President Dr Divekar also
informed about the scope and support to the workshop. Prof A.G. Joshi- the
convenor of the workshop briefed about the time table of the two days.

IN THE AFTERNOON

In the
afternoon of Oct 04, 2009, there was demonstration and hands- on- practice of
making a ferrocement member. The laboratory of S E A Pune is well equipped for
all tests and making of concrete. Using the welding apparatus of and with the
help of technicians of Dr Divekarand
also 4 trainee diploma engineers, the demo was arranged. The garden –plant-in a
row -box was to be made .The delegates could witnessand understand the importance of keeping
tight/tautthe chicken mesh, the wire
mesh. The skeletal steel was placed ; the supports were welded.Wire-mesh was placed and tied . Chicken mesh
in threelayers was clad on it and
,tightly held and welded. After this an used/oldnewspaper was laid down on floor; cement
mortar was made with minimum water and its base-layer of less than ½” was spread on paper
sheet. The cage or skeleton was placed on it . The expert workers of Dr B.N.
Divekar Consultant andconstruction
group did that toweling and placingcement mortar on both faces of the cage rectangular piece. Placing
mortar on both sides needs some skill.

Delegates
participated in the tying up the chicken mesh and pressing the cement mortar
–applying from both faces or from one face of the surface.

OLD
NEWS

January 2007- MaharashtraEngineeringTrainingAcademy
working at MERI – Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute, Nashik,
India held a ‘Workshop on
Theory and Applications of Ferrocrete’ on January 19 and 20 at MERI Nashik, India. About
110 delegates attended it mostly engineers from Water Resources Department and
PWD of state of Maharashtra. There were
private participants [of Hindustan Construction Company] and students from
Architectural Colleges. Full CD of the proceedings and photos is available to
the members on request.

A
one day workshop was conducted by Institution of Engineers(India). Ahmednagar local center and
Ferrocement Society, Pune. 70 participants could interact on ferrocement
technology. Dr. B N Divekar, Dr N R Patwardhan, B V Bhedasgaonkar, A G Joshi
were the main speakers in the workshop. Demonstration was shown by G P Dhotre
(ferrocement professional at Ahmednagar) Er M S Mundhe, DG , MERI, Nashik and
President of FS, inaugurated the workshop